French Toast Muffins

French toast is my secret weapon when it comes to teenagers. No matter how embarrassing I manage to be as a mom (yes! as a matter of fact I DO have Single Ladies on my Ipod, and I am going to sing it. Loudly. And yes, I realize I might have gotten the lyrics wrong, but I like singing it anyway, even if your friends are over.)...even if I am that mortifying, I still can redeem myself by making my famous french toast.

And honestly, it's not that famous. It's the garden variety dunk some bread in beaten egg, fry it up in butter and serve it with cinnamon sugar and maple syrup version, but hey, apparently it just tastes that much better when Mama makes it, and I'll take it. She adores it, and I adore her, so it's all good.

Anyway, when I ran across this recipe for french toast muffins I knew I was on to something really, truly great. See those little chunks up on the top of each muffin?

They are pieces of cinnamon bread that have been soaked in the egg batter and then plunked on the top of the muffin batter, so they cook up as little heavenly pieces of actual french toast right on top of your french toast flavored muffin.

Let's take a closer look.

I figure I am now good to sing the wrong lyrics to Single Ladies for the rest of my born days now.

French Toast Muffins, from Recipezaar

French Toast Topping

• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 egg,slightly beaten
• 6 slices cinnamon bread, crusts trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Muffins

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon maple extract
• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping

• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Heat oven to 375°F
2. Combine all French toast topping ingredients in medium bowl; set aside,.
3. Combine 1 cup milk, melted butter, 1 egg and maple flavoring in another medium bowl. Combine all remaining muffin ingredients in large bowl. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture just until mixed.
4. Spoon batter into greased 12-cup muffin pan. Spoon French toast topping evenly over batter; press down slightly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Immediately brush muffins with maple-flavored syrup. Combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Sprinkle over glazed muffins. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm.

Click here for printable recipe